Depending on your region and social media algorithms, in recent years the term “Latino You may have seen the term used. US. But a new study shows that not only do many of those people hate the word, but the word itself may even be driving them away from the Democratic Party.
“Latinx” entered the mainstream lexicon around 2016 and gained attention through its use by liberal celebrities, media, and politicians. Democratic figures such as Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden have used the term in public statements. In the 116th Congress, from 2019 to 2021, half of Democrats used social media, while no Republicans used it.
While “Latino” was intended to be an umbrella term by progressives, research shows it has had the opposite effect for many in the Latino community.
According to a Pew Research survey, 75 percent of Latinos familiar with the term say the term should not be used to describe the Hispanic population, and 36 percent have an unfavorable opinion of the term. I understand that you think it has meaning.
Now, a new study conducted by Professor Amanda Sahar Darso of Georgetown University and Professor Marcel F. Roman of Harvard University goes a step further. Their research found that this label not only alienates Latino voters, but can actively drive them toward Republican candidates.
Protesters and supporters confront each other outside the Anaheim Convention Center as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks inside the rally on May 25, 2016 in Anaheim, California. Protesters and supporters confront each other outside the Anaheim Convention Center as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks inside the rally on May 25, 2016 in Anaheim, California. Bob Riha Jr./Getty Images
“Latinos and Hispanics often dislike this term, and as a result, they are more likely to support Republicans or withdraw support for Democratic candidates,” Roman said in an interview with Newsweek magazine. he said.
She said some of the backlash is due to the word’s association with progressive gender and LGBTQ+ issues, which may not resonate with socially conservative segments of the Latinx community. He said that this stems from the recognition that there is.
This backlash against the term reflects a broader trend among Latino voters, long considered a reliably Democratic voting bloc.
Latino support for former President Donald Trump increased in 2020, especially in battleground states like Florida and Texas, according to a 538 poll. Experts, including Sahar d’Arso and Roman, attribute the shift to growing concerns about the Democratic Party’s progressive social agenda, which includes terms like “Latino.”
Evelyn Pérez Verdía, a communications and cultural strategist and founder of the South Florida social impact organization We Are Más, told Barron’s that Latino voters are not interested in identity-based politics. and instead aligned himself with a broad range of economic and social conservatism. Many people couldn’t relate to the progressive arguments Democrats were pushing to appeal to them.
“The label ‘Latino’ has become symbolic of the Democratic Party’s disconnect with Latinx cultural values. The Democratic Party’s use of provocative messages and symbols and failure to address the concerns of expatriate communities. The results will continue to become clearer as the number of Hispanic Democrats rises to “jump ship,” she said.
Pérez-Verdia points to the summer of 2020 and the Black Lives Matter movement that followed the #MeToo movement as a time when progressive orthodoxy began to alienate such voters, leading to the backlash now reflected in opinion polls. He cited the rise of the
The rifts surrounding “Latino” and related identity issues also intersect with political party affiliation within the Latino community. Data from a survey conducted by Darso and Roman found that Latinos who reject the term “Latino” are statistically less likely to support Democratic candidates.
A protester holds a sign that reads “Black Lives Matter” amid a large crowd at Foley Square on June 2, 2020. Protesters took to the streets across America after the killing. On June 2, 2020, a large crowd at Foley Square chanted “LATiNXS FOR BLACK LiVES MATTER.” Protesters took to the streets across the United States after George Floyd was killed at the hands of Derek Chauvin, a white police officer who was kneeling on his neck. He was arrested after complaining that he couldn’t breathe. Ira L. Black/Corbis details (via Getty Images)
“Our strongest evidence comes from research experiments,” Roman said. “We asked approximately 1,000 Latino respondents to rate two hypothetical politicians who are making economic appeals to the Latino community. Half of them agreed that the politicians used the word “Latino.” , and the other half saw politicians using the word “Latino.” People who watched “Latinx” rated the politician more negatively, were less likely to support the politician, and felt more negatively toward the politician. ”
Additionally, while young Latinos are more likely to accept the term due to the inclusive language movement in Spanish-speaking countries, young Latino men are the ones who most reject the term. Professors also discovered this. Marcel said this behavior among Latino men is consistent with a larger trend across the United States as young people become more conservative.
“This trend of younger men, including Latinos, becoming more conservative is occurring broadly, as men adapt to changing social dynamics, such as the advancement of women in education and the workforce. This broader pattern is indicative of the struggles of some “young men experiencing different communities,” he added.
In recent years, as awareness and controversy surrounding the use of the identifier “Latino” has grown, including efforts to ban its use, another gender-neutral term, “Latinx,” has emerged to replace it. However, a November 2023 Pew survey found that Latinos are little known among U.S. Hispanics, with a majority (81%) referring to them as Hispanic or Latino when describing themselves as a group. It turns out that I continue to prefer the term system.
As the 2024 election enters its final stages, the Latino community is in the spotlight after a comedian made racist jokes about Puerto Rico and other remarks targeting Hispanics at a Trump rally in New York. are. While the Trump campaign sought to de-escalate tensions this week, the Harris campaign seized the opportunity to rally Latino superstars such as Bad Bunny, Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez to its side.
Supporters of former President Donald Trump watch as former President Donald Trump holds a rally in the historic South Bronx Democratic District in New York City on May 23, 2024. Supporters of former President Donald Trump watch a rally for former President Donald Trump in the historic South Bronx Democratic District in New York City on May 23, 2024. The Bronx, home to a large Latino community, has been a Democratic stronghold for voters for generations, and the rally comes as President Trump seeks to attract more nonwhite voters. Additional photos by Spencer Pratt/Getty Images
The spotlight on Latino voters reflects a recognition within both parties that their support is at an all-time high. The group has historically supported Democrats, but recent developments have caused concern for the party. Kamala Harris leads Trump among Latino voters, according to a UnidosUS poll, but her approval rating of 59% is slightly lower than the 61% secured by Joe Biden in 2020. are.
Young Latinos are particularly influential in this election, with 17.5 million people expected to vote, and one in five will be voting in a presidential election for the first time. UnidosUS reports that 38% of Latino voters are newly elected since 2016, highlighting the group’s growing influence.
